Starlite Roller Rink, Route 66 Mother Road, Sapulpa, Oklahoma. All four photos featuring the sign taken by different fans or websites. Original sign appeared like the one on the right side without the lightbox on there. It was all rustic as well. The second row of photos are from same photographer on Road Architecture webstie. They were taken likely in 2000s before the sign was refinished as you can see on top row of two photographs. From top left, clockwise: Pinterest, Tulsa World (you wont get article), and bottom two Road Architecture.
|
Starlite Roller Rink Route 66 Mother Road, Sapulpa, Oklahoma. This is a series of how it changed quickly in few short years. Compare that to the RV Park main office building which remains the exact the same through out those years. The RV Park office has ageless appearance. But not with this one. For first two photos it showed emptiness or no usage of the building. There is a sign that was up for sale. You can see how the style changed with the changing times. Hard to see the first two because it was grainy photos back then. First was 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016, and 2018. I do not know what the current look now that it is 2021. Three years after the 2018 photo. Did they change once again? Which one you like the best? I like the 2011 and 2012 look the best but the sign in 2016 is best because of dark background for white letterings. Adding mural makes it more geared for children/teens. I like the grown up look before the 2016 photo. Another thing, adding the shed up front like that is bit of turn off. Sorry, my opinion! Source: Google Map.
Starlite Roller Rink Route 66 Mother Road, Sapulpa, Oklahoma. This was a flea market once in 2000s called Hollow Creek Market. It ran for a brief time. It had Rust Red paint on. You can see the stone wall. Quite interesting building. Source: Loop Net.
Starlite Roller Rink Route 66 Mother Road, Sapulpa, Oklahoma. This was a flea market once in 2000s called Hollow Creek Market. It ran for a brief time. Quite interesting building. Source: Loop Net.
Route 66 Roller Dome Route 66 Mother Road, Sapulpa, Oklahoma. This was Starlite Roller Rink years prior to Route 66 Roller Dome. Source: Route 66 News.
Route 66 Roller Dome Route 66 Mother Road, Sapulpa, Oklahoma. This was Starlite Roller Rink years prior to Route 66 Roller Dome. Source: The Roller Dome.
Route 66 Roller Dome Route 66 Mother Road, Sapulpa, Oklahoma. This was Starlite Roller Rink years prior to Route 66 Roller Dome. Source: YouTube.
Starlite Roller Rink 9751 New Sapulpa Road, Sapulpa, OK
Starlite Skate Center 9751 Route 66 (Mother Road), Sapulpa, OK
Route 66 Roller Dome 9751 Route 66 (Mother Road), Sapulpa, OK (Current operating) aka
The Roller Dome 9751 Route 66 (Mother Road), Sapulpa, OK (Current Operating)
Starlite Skate Center 9751 Route 66 (Mother Road), Sapulpa, OK
Route 66 Roller Dome 9751 Route 66 (Mother Road), Sapulpa, OK (Current operating) aka
The Roller Dome 9751 Route 66 (Mother Road), Sapulpa, OK (Current Operating)
Long before Route 66 Roller Dome aka The Roller Dome, was once a rink called Starlite Roller Rink but also known as Starlite Skate Center. That original rink was opened in 1953 but the closure is unknown. But it was on 9751 New Sapulpa Road, known as Route 66 Mother Road, the historic highway spanning from Michigan Ave in Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California.
Berry and Phyllis Simpson were the operators of Starlite Roller Rink when they built and first opened and ran for a good 50 years till they sold it. From 1953 to 2002. 49 years. According to the couple's daughter-in-law. (Route 66 News)
It became a retail called Hollow Creek Market in around 2002 after Starlite closed. The market then closed as of March 12, 2010 when the lease expired. But it appeared to be empty long before that. The 2007 photo from Google showed it was up for sale and empty. No name on there. It closed before 2007. Maybe 3 years of operations Then for a year, a church was housed at this 1950s style Segmental Arch building as they were relocating in downtown Sapulpa, Oklahoma.
Then Route 66 Roller Dome operators bought the place as they knew about the location was once Starlite and rebooted as a rink once again and still operational. I heard people often say this is the flagship roller rink of all rinks on Route 66 between those two major pointed I mentioned in first paragraph. I believe it is the name that really catches on people's attention and sort of the middle of all Route 66. Its location is really close to Interstate 44 if you not care about the famous back road that spanned from popular cities of Chicago and Los Angeles as people migrate from Cold windy and snowy north to sunny beach and mountainside of South California during the early 20th Century. It was automotive version of the "Oregon Trail."
It is convenience too. It is near the exit exchange from Interstate 44 and Route 66 which is quite parallel from each other and also next to an RV park where you can park your RV to stay overnight on your route travels. Just walk over to next door to skate that evening after you had your dinner. I highly recommended you stop by at Route 66 Roller Dome aka The Roller Dome right on the famed Route 66. When you do, tell them that Dead-Rinks recommended you to skate at that rink. Still operational and successfully surviving passed COVID Lockdowns and limitations of accesses.
Starlite Roller Rink --
The Interior.
Since its opening in 1951, they had Maple wood floor for their roller rink. I do not know what the interior looked like back then. I am sure it was seen on a Tulsa newspaper that they do NOT allow anyone to read unless you pay for it. Not even a free example? My goodness. So, it is not listed as source for any profiles on Dead-Rinks as we do not recommend them.
Anyway, so we will figure out somehow if anyone provides photos.
The Exterior.
It appeared very 1950s style Segmental Arch building built in that decade because of the angles and shapes. Also the material they used up front was wall resembled to Colonial Wallstone stone wall (Not Bluestone). This style was very common in 1950s. A sort of revival occurred in late 1990s to 2005. It is very 1950s look till they updated the look in late 2010s with new colors. I really like the Route 66 Roller Dome look with their name on the wall above the extension flat roof where the arch is. They painted it over with Pitch Black. They covered with plywood over the stone and painted it Cosmos Blue on the wall.
They also changed by adding a shed to shield from the RV Park which further destruct the uniqueness of 1950s look. I love the look they had around 2011, not the current. No offense. To each own.
One thing I am happy about that if the next owner wants to, they can remove that wall and the stones are shown once again. And return to that classic 50s look. Since the rink first opened in 1951, likely the building was also built in 1951.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Non-painted Hardwood Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Route 66 Roller Dome --
The Interior.
After the long hiatus that the Starlite rink closed, the market and the church were both used inside and it was perhaps changed quite a bit through those two. Both needed room so I am sure rails were removed, scratches from chairs, furniture, display cases, etc. So, when Route 66 Roller Dome began when they purchased, they added the RollerCourt which is a rubberized flooring tiles with tongue and groove to connect joints between tiles. If any do not know what that is, they are available for a 10 by 10 layout from a local store or as seen on TV and try that for yourself. It is softer, and many trade shows companies use those tiles to ease their standing on the floor over cold concrete floor at venues or convention centers.
It is Blue with several colors titles. A roller rink in the Hudson River Valley in upstate NY had it very similar layout and colors but that one is also a Dead Rink because the owner got rid of the rink to focus on other entertainment which caused a large petition but the owner refused to listen. Anyway, some other rinks I am sure has that design. But other rinks has different colors. I know one in Massachusetts had purple with Yellow frame like layout and that one closed too. Two active outdoor roller rinks in Brooklyn use similar type of flooring. Yes, they do have roof but they had to use this flooring because it is outdoors and exposed to all weather and solar activities.
The pro of that floor is more forgiving to less injuries but the con you hear a lot especially adults that this type gives a lot of thumping when skating.
What I really like is that they have a very unique sign that really curved. It is an arrow that points out where the arcade is and its thick.. I believe that was wood and was painted and it gave that very... comic book or cartoon feel to it. The walls around eating area also have those colors. Very colorful.
They also installed new sound and security systems. They also have new glow light carpet on the wall around the rink.
The Exterior.
They did in 2011 when they returned back to the roller rink, to keep it the same but in later year as you can see by 2019, they added a long narrow front shed to further divide from the RV park next door and added the wall with plyboards replacing that Colonial Flatstone wall and painted in Cosmos Blue and Black. It really changed quite a bit in past few years.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Blue with Multi-color titles RollerCourt over ORIGINAL Maple. Floor Layout: RollerCourt Titles
Building Size: 8,565 SF. Built: 1951 Demolished: Still Standing
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Cinderblock-Walled with Colonial Wallstone stone wall (front) Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Segmental Arch.
Acres: 0.7100 Acre.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1953 to 2002 and Saturday October 15, 2011 to Present.
Starlite Roller Rink: 1953 to 2002.
Starlite Skate Center: 1953 to 2002.
Route 66 Roller Dome: Saturday October 15, 2011 to Present.
The Roller Dome: Saturday October 15, 2011 to Present.
Reason for Closure:
Starlite Roller Rink: N/A.
Starlite Skate Center: N/A.
Route 66 Roller Dome: Still operational. aka
The Roller Dome: Still operational.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: The Roller Dome - website; Facebook - The Roller Dome; Loop Net; Loop Net PDF;
The Roller Dome History - their website; Flickr - the sign; P.S. who corrected the date of built and open of Starlite;
Route 66 News - New rink opens once again at old Starlite; News on 6 - Rink reopens as Route 66 Roller Dome;
Date of issue: 02 June 2021.
For office use only: 19 ps (1 vs., 6 gms, 2 ra.)
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.
Berry and Phyllis Simpson were the operators of Starlite Roller Rink when they built and first opened and ran for a good 50 years till they sold it. From 1953 to 2002. 49 years. According to the couple's daughter-in-law. (Route 66 News)
It became a retail called Hollow Creek Market in around 2002 after Starlite closed. The market then closed as of March 12, 2010 when the lease expired. But it appeared to be empty long before that. The 2007 photo from Google showed it was up for sale and empty. No name on there. It closed before 2007. Maybe 3 years of operations Then for a year, a church was housed at this 1950s style Segmental Arch building as they were relocating in downtown Sapulpa, Oklahoma.
Then Route 66 Roller Dome operators bought the place as they knew about the location was once Starlite and rebooted as a rink once again and still operational. I heard people often say this is the flagship roller rink of all rinks on Route 66 between those two major pointed I mentioned in first paragraph. I believe it is the name that really catches on people's attention and sort of the middle of all Route 66. Its location is really close to Interstate 44 if you not care about the famous back road that spanned from popular cities of Chicago and Los Angeles as people migrate from Cold windy and snowy north to sunny beach and mountainside of South California during the early 20th Century. It was automotive version of the "Oregon Trail."
It is convenience too. It is near the exit exchange from Interstate 44 and Route 66 which is quite parallel from each other and also next to an RV park where you can park your RV to stay overnight on your route travels. Just walk over to next door to skate that evening after you had your dinner. I highly recommended you stop by at Route 66 Roller Dome aka The Roller Dome right on the famed Route 66. When you do, tell them that Dead-Rinks recommended you to skate at that rink. Still operational and successfully surviving passed COVID Lockdowns and limitations of accesses.
Starlite Roller Rink --
The Interior.
Since its opening in 1951, they had Maple wood floor for their roller rink. I do not know what the interior looked like back then. I am sure it was seen on a Tulsa newspaper that they do NOT allow anyone to read unless you pay for it. Not even a free example? My goodness. So, it is not listed as source for any profiles on Dead-Rinks as we do not recommend them.
Anyway, so we will figure out somehow if anyone provides photos.
The Exterior.
It appeared very 1950s style Segmental Arch building built in that decade because of the angles and shapes. Also the material they used up front was wall resembled to Colonial Wallstone stone wall (Not Bluestone). This style was very common in 1950s. A sort of revival occurred in late 1990s to 2005. It is very 1950s look till they updated the look in late 2010s with new colors. I really like the Route 66 Roller Dome look with their name on the wall above the extension flat roof where the arch is. They painted it over with Pitch Black. They covered with plywood over the stone and painted it Cosmos Blue on the wall.
They also changed by adding a shed to shield from the RV Park which further destruct the uniqueness of 1950s look. I love the look they had around 2011, not the current. No offense. To each own.
One thing I am happy about that if the next owner wants to, they can remove that wall and the stones are shown once again. And return to that classic 50s look. Since the rink first opened in 1951, likely the building was also built in 1951.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Non-painted Hardwood Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Route 66 Roller Dome --
The Interior.
After the long hiatus that the Starlite rink closed, the market and the church were both used inside and it was perhaps changed quite a bit through those two. Both needed room so I am sure rails were removed, scratches from chairs, furniture, display cases, etc. So, when Route 66 Roller Dome began when they purchased, they added the RollerCourt which is a rubberized flooring tiles with tongue and groove to connect joints between tiles. If any do not know what that is, they are available for a 10 by 10 layout from a local store or as seen on TV and try that for yourself. It is softer, and many trade shows companies use those tiles to ease their standing on the floor over cold concrete floor at venues or convention centers.
It is Blue with several colors titles. A roller rink in the Hudson River Valley in upstate NY had it very similar layout and colors but that one is also a Dead Rink because the owner got rid of the rink to focus on other entertainment which caused a large petition but the owner refused to listen. Anyway, some other rinks I am sure has that design. But other rinks has different colors. I know one in Massachusetts had purple with Yellow frame like layout and that one closed too. Two active outdoor roller rinks in Brooklyn use similar type of flooring. Yes, they do have roof but they had to use this flooring because it is outdoors and exposed to all weather and solar activities.
The pro of that floor is more forgiving to less injuries but the con you hear a lot especially adults that this type gives a lot of thumping when skating.
What I really like is that they have a very unique sign that really curved. It is an arrow that points out where the arcade is and its thick.. I believe that was wood and was painted and it gave that very... comic book or cartoon feel to it. The walls around eating area also have those colors. Very colorful.
They also installed new sound and security systems. They also have new glow light carpet on the wall around the rink.
The Exterior.
They did in 2011 when they returned back to the roller rink, to keep it the same but in later year as you can see by 2019, they added a long narrow front shed to further divide from the RV park next door and added the wall with plyboards replacing that Colonial Flatstone wall and painted in Cosmos Blue and Black. It really changed quite a bit in past few years.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Blue with Multi-color titles RollerCourt over ORIGINAL Maple. Floor Layout: RollerCourt Titles
Building Size: 8,565 SF. Built: 1951 Demolished: Still Standing
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Cinderblock-Walled with Colonial Wallstone stone wall (front) Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Segmental Arch.
Acres: 0.7100 Acre.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1953 to 2002 and Saturday October 15, 2011 to Present.
Starlite Roller Rink: 1953 to 2002.
Starlite Skate Center: 1953 to 2002.
Route 66 Roller Dome: Saturday October 15, 2011 to Present.
The Roller Dome: Saturday October 15, 2011 to Present.
Reason for Closure:
Starlite Roller Rink: N/A.
Starlite Skate Center: N/A.
Route 66 Roller Dome: Still operational. aka
The Roller Dome: Still operational.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: The Roller Dome - website; Facebook - The Roller Dome; Loop Net; Loop Net PDF;
The Roller Dome History - their website; Flickr - the sign; P.S. who corrected the date of built and open of Starlite;
Route 66 News - New rink opens once again at old Starlite; News on 6 - Rink reopens as Route 66 Roller Dome;
Date of issue: 02 June 2021.
For office use only: 19 ps (1 vs., 6 gms, 2 ra.)
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.